Can AMY P the cardiologist please answer a few more of my questions please.?

Hi Amy this is what was in my cardiologists letter could you help me out by explaining what each bit means and how it will affect my future ( I am only 28 and have been diagnosed with PAF for the last 2 years , I am taking Flecainide (tambacor in USA) should I be taking this if I have decreased function in my left ventricle ? I have to waitt until october to see my cardiologist to explian these things to me!!!

Left ventricular dimensions were at the upper limit of normal with mild overall systolic impairment and some minor regional wall abnormality at the apex with a hyperkinetic mid anterior septum. There was a minor intra-ventricular conduction delay

Thanks AMY

If anyone else could help me as well I would be grateful


Thanks

PAF=paroxsymal atrial fibrillation (this is a coming and going rhythm-hence paroxsymal). Other "foci" besides your SA node are firing spontaneously sending out multiple electrical impulses to your conduction system. The AV node can only respond to one at a time. But the top part of your heart(atria) are being stimulated to contract constantly, and therefore the bottom part of your heart (ventricles) are not recieving adequate volumes of blood. Over time the ventricles enlarge(to try and compensate and get more blood), then the muscle quality diminishes and hence overall decreased function. Why are you waiting until October? There are millions of qualified cardiologists around the world who could treat you. You most likely at this point need EP studies and possible ablation of those "extra foci", if not a pacemaker to "override" this rhythm and restore normal conduction. Hopefully at 28 your heart muscle will repair itself, but it's not 100% guaranteed. The other option is a possible cardioversion to "reboot" your electrical conduction system, and then a med less toxic to your systolic function to maintain your normal rhythm and promote healing of your heart muscle. Don't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A small electrial impulse originating from the upper art of the right atrium, caled the sino-atrial node (pacemaker of the heart) sweeps through the muscles of the atria, and causes both the atria to contract. By this means the atria squeeze into the ventricles whatever bood remains there. To reach the right ventricle the blood must pass through the tricuspid valve. To reach the left ventricle the blood must pass through the mitral valve.
The impulse now passes to a second area of specialised tissue known as atrio-ventricular node, which lies close to the septum between the atria. From here the impulse passes to the ventricles by a special pathway in the ventricular septum called the "bundle of His" (other than this pathway, the atria are electrically insulated from the ventricles).The bundle of His divides up into two branches, right and left, to carry the impulse to both ventricles. The contraction of ventricles is therfore normally controlled by an impulse which arises in the atria, thus causing the atria and ventricles to beat at the same rate and in regular sequence. When the conducting pathway is diseased, so that the passage of the impulse is interfered with, the atria and ventricles may cease to beat at the same rate.
You have got the same problem. The signals from the sino-atrial node frequently misses to reach atrio-ventricular node. Your doctor has already administered Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation. He may sometimes suggest to install a pacemaker in your heart to make the ventricles beat in a normal rate.
Please see the webpages for more details on Atrial fibrillation, Heart disease & Stroke-the facts (diseases) and Flecainide (drug)
Please note that I am not a medical professional.

Great question,,,,, I learned something. After reading your test results, I knew something was slowing down the blood that was going to the lungs. I understand PAF to be pulmonary artery fibrosis,,,, is that what you are talking about? The link is an article on treating PAF with a stent. With the information I have, it sounds like the mediastinal fibrosis has altered the electrical conduction of your heart. The tambocor you take is to keep your heart from "running away". It keeps your heart from going too fast. Having mild systolic impairment would only get worse if your heart was beating too fast. It would be working harder to do less work. Your blood pressure would go down and it would be harder for the right side of your heart to get oxygen-poor blood into the lungs, due to the impaired pulmonary artery. As for waiting to see the cardiologist, if you have a sudden major increase in shortness of breath, feel dizzy or like you are too tired to stay awake,,, you need to dial 911. Hope this helps.
PS--- when you see the doc,,, I am wondering if a bi-ventricular pacemaker would help??? hmmm You have an interesting situation.